If it’s been
several years since your last professional carpet cleaning then your carpets
are likely quite dirty. Dirt falls deep into the carpet pile and even if your
carpet doesn't look dirty it likely has a lot of deep down dirt embedded right
down into the pad. This can cause serious health problems for those with
allergies and anyone with asthma or other serious lung conditions. If you have
carpets that are more than 10 years old, and you or your family members have
any lung issues, then you might want to consider replacing your old carpet and
padding with new.

The
price you’ll pay for carpet cleaning depends on the age and condition of
your carpet and the amount of time and effort it will take to do the job
right.

When to have your Carpets
Cleaned.

How
to Find an Honest Carpet Cleaning Company.

Facts
about Carpet Cleaning Cost and Pricing.

The
4 Rules of Carpet Cleaning

Rule
# 1

The dirtier your carpet is… the more it’s going to cost to have it
cleaned properly.

Imagine not cleaning your stove top for a
week, or a month or a year! How much more difficult would it be? If your stove
top was just dirty from last night’s meal then it might take just a few
quick swipes with a damp cloth or sponge to get the surface clean. But if you
had not cleaned it for a week or more, then can you imagine how long it could
take to clean it and how much more difficult it would be? The same goes for
your carpet. If you haven’t your carpet cleaned in years, no matter who you
call it’s going to take some extra time and effort to do the job properly.

If your carpets are in serious need of a
thorough deep-cleaning, don’t go searching for a Carpet Cleaner Coupon that
says “Two Rooms Cleaned for $29.99!” You won’t be happy with the results
from a light surface cleaning. Carpet Cleaners that advertise super cheap
prices are notorious for luring you in with an amazing low price special and
once they arrive, they surprise you with an estimate so high it will knock you
off your feet! You don’t need this type of aggravation! But be prepared to pay a
reasonable and fair price to have your carpets properly cleaned.

Dirty carpets take longer to clean and you
must understand that. This means if you
have your carpets professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months like you are
supposed to, then the cost to have your carpet cleaned should be on the low end of
the scale. That's because it will not take very long to clean your
carpets.

But if you seldom have your carpets cleaned,
then expect the price you are asked
to pay to be on the higher end of the scale. If you haven't had your carpets
professionally cleaned in 6 years, don't be surprised when the estimate is
twice or three times as much as you expect. The fact is, all carpet cleaners
must charge a reasonable price for their services or they won’t be able to
stay in business. If it will take twice as long to thoroughly clean your dirty
carpet then expect the job to be priced accordingly.

One
Room Cost
Example: A common bedroom size is 10’ X 14’ or 140
square feet.

At
18 cents per square foot
the cost for cleaning would be about $25.00 (Carpet
doesn’t
appear dirty)

At
28 cents per square foot
the cost for cleaning would be about $40.00 (Carpet
looks
fairly dirty)

At
36 cents per square foot
the cost for cleaning would be about $50.00 (Carpet
is
very dirty!)

Some Carpet Cleaning companies prefer to
charge by the room or by the job. It still ends up being pretty close to the
same price as it would be if calculated by the square foot, so if you know
about how many square feet you need to have cleaned it will be easy for you to
calculate an approximate cost.

At 36 cents per square foot - Total cost about $360.00 (Carpet
is
very dirty!)

Please Remember: It's NOT a scam
for a professional carpet cleaner to charge you according to how dirty your
carpet is.

Proper Carpet Care and Maintenance

It's up to you to make sure your carpet is well maintained and cared for according to the carpet manufacturer's guidelines.
Failure to do so will void your carpet warranty and cause your carpet to wear
out prematurely. Regular vacuuming and professional cleanings every 12 to 18
months is usually required and is a good way to make sure your new carpet lasts as long as
possible. Visit Alan's Carpet Cleaner Directory

Rule
#3

Have your carpets cleaned
before they start to look dirty.

Abrasion is what causes carpet to look
ugly and worn out. If you wait too long between cleanings, your carpet can
become permanently damaged. Dirt and grime can easily cause abrasive wear that
cannot be undone. Once you reach this point there is nothing any carpet
cleaner can do to restore the “like-new” appearance your carpet once had.
Sure you can have your carpets cleaned, but you won’t be happy with the way
your carpet looks when it’s done.

Rule
#4

Plan
to
have your carpets cleaned regularly

There are plenty of "poor
quality" carpet cleaning companies that you need to avoid. So instead of clipping out a carpet cleaning
coupon and rolling the dice hoping you get good service, visit Alan's
Carpet
Cleaner Directory and see who I recommend near you.

All the companies on my
list are IICRC certified and personally hand-selected by me. They must pass my
test and requirements before I will recommend them to my readers. Make an appointment and
be sure to ask them about their Carpet Maintenance Plans. It could save you
plenty in the long run!

It’s
a special price for purchasing your future carpet cleanings in advance at a
discounted price. Perhaps they
offer four cleanings for the price of three or three cleanings for the price
of two. Either way, it is in your best long-term interest to invest in a
carpet maintenance plan to keep your carpets cleaned on a regular and ongoing
basis. I think it is a very smart move and
you have the option of setting the date of cleaning whenever it is convenient
for you. You will save money in the
long run, your carpet will last years longer, your home will always look nice
and be a healthier place to you and your family to live.

Carpet Cleaning Extras

Spills,
Spots and Stains...

Some carpet stains need special treatment
and require extra time, treatment and effort. You should not pay extra for
pre-treatment
of most spots and stains as this is usually included as part of the basic price, but in
some cases, especially with serious pet accidents or biological spills and stains
there may be an extra charge due to the severity of the situation.It’s
impossible to predict how much extra it might be without knowing the type of
stain, size and disposition of the affected area.

Carpet Cleaners may be able to repair or
restore your damaged carpet. Carpet is often damaged from floods, accidents,
burns or pets, but may be repairable or restored by a competent carpet
Cleaning
technician. Some spots and stains are impossible to clean but other options
may be available. In some cases, depending on the type of carpet you have,
carpet dyeing may restore the color to a faded or bleached out area.

Burns can
be cut out and replaced with leftover carpet or by using the same carpet taken from a “less critical” area (like a closet). Some carpets may
need to be re-stretched or reinstalled. The cost for these extra services will
depend on your situation. If the cost is too high or if the carpet is not
repairable you will have to decide if it's time to start
thinking about buying new carpet.